Keeping the pound, Queen and Dr. Who: Scotland tries to have it both ways in plan for separation from U.K.

LONDON — Raising the stakes in its struggle for independence in advance of a referendum next year, the Scottish government Tuesday unveiled a voluminous prospectus for a new state with its own embassies and identity, but retaining significant bonds to Britain including a common currency — the pound — and allegiance to Queen Elizabeth as head of state.

The document said Scotland would also keep the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), although it would be named the Scottish Broadcasting Service, as well as popular television shows such as Dr. Who, Strictly Come Dancing and Eastenders.

An independent Scotland would also remain in the European Union and join the NATO military alliance.

However, Alistair Darling, former U.K. Treasury minister and leader of the Better Together campaign which is in favour of Scotland remaining in the U.K., called the report a “work of fiction.”

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He said independence advocates “ducked the opportunity” to answer key questions about Scotland’s future.

“We have waited months for this and it has failed to give credible answers on fundamentally important questions,” he said.

Scots were being asked to “take a one-way ticket to a deeply uncertain destination” he said.

Politicians in England and Wales have warned that an independent Scotland would not be allowed to keep the pound currency and other critics wondered how Scotland would convince organizations like Europe, NATO, the BBC and Buckingham Palace to just accept the new country.

The prospectus released by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond says independence will create a more democratic Scotland and a more prosperous country.

The governing Scottish National Party supports independence, while the opposition Labour and Conservative parties both oppose it.

“This is the most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published, not just for Scotland but for any prospective independent nation” Mr. Salmond said at the launch of the 670-page document setting out the terms of separation.

On foreign policy, Mr. Salmond said that negotiations with the European Commission to join the EU were being blocked by the U.K. government in London and added: “We believe Scotland will be a welcome member of the EU.”

The U.K.’s nuclear deterrent is based in Scotland but would be withdrawn during the first parliament of a newly independent nation, the report states.

Mr. Salmond said Scotland would also be welcomed into the NATO alliance.

“Our assurance about NATO membership is that 25 out of 28 members are not nuclear powers and 20 members have no nuclear weapons on their soil so we ask for no special arrangements for Scotland,” he said.

Independence would mean that “the most important decisions about our economy and society will be taken by the people who care most about Scotland, that is by the people of Scotland.

“The door will open to a new era for our nation. Scotland’s future will be in Scotland’s hands,” said the document.

Political battles in the run-up to the referendum could come down to straightforward pocketbook politics.

The independence movement is strongly opposed by British Prime Minister David Cameron. The British government argues that people living in Scotland would pay an extra £1,000 ($1,600) a year in tax, while Mr. Salmond said Scots would actually pay less than they are paying now.

Scotland has already had its own Parliament since 1999 and its own set of laws. In a referendum on Sept. 18, 2014, Scots will be asked whether they want Scotland to become independent.

Mr. Salmond called for the historic referendum after his Scottish National Party in 2011 won a one-seat majority in the Scottish Parliament.

Polls have consistently put support for independence at between 25-30%.The Associated Press, with files from The New York Times